Sazerac (The Big Easy's First Cocktail)

Just in time for Mardis Gras. Said to be The Big Easy's first cocktail, it was originally served at the Sazerac Coffee House.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup water
•  ice cube
• 1⁄4 cup  rye whiskey or 1⁄4 cup Bourbon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  bitters
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  anise  liqueur
•  lemon rind, twist

Directions

1. Cook 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat 5 minutes, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and cool.
2. Pack a 3 1/2-ounce cocktail glass with ice cubes, and set glass aside.
3. Combine whiskey, bitters, sugar syrup, and a few ice cubes in a cocktail shaker; stir to chill.
4. Discard ice cubes in cocktail glass. Coat inside of glass with liqueur, shaking out excess liqueur. (For stronger licorice flavor, leave excess liqueur in glass.) Rub lemon rind over rim of glass, and discard rind.
5. Strain whiskey mixture into prepared glass. Serve drink immediately.